Surveying instrument



Oct. 4, 1938. A. LANGSNER 2,132,171

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT Fiied March 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 liuuenibr: ado lph/La gfiner @h @aqw/nm Oct. 4, 1938. LANGSNER 2,132,171

SURVEYING INS TRUMENT Filed March 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURVEYING INSTRUMENT of Delaware Application March 16, 1935, Serial No. 11,525

8 Claims.

My invention relates in general to measuring instruments and has more particular reference to alidades and similar precision instruments for use in surveying.

An important object is to provide an adjustable support for a telescope or other sighting device providing an alidade wherein the telescope may be adjusted in various sighted positions by adjusting mechanism carried by and forming a part of the support wherein the support and adjusting means are designed to co-operate for the exclusion of dirt and other foreign matter to the adjusting mechanism.

A further object is to simplify and reduce the number of operating parts in an alidade while, at the same time, configurating the parts which are retained in order to enhance the attractive appearance of the instrument, the parts being formed to facilitate assembly thereof.

Another important object is to provide a support for a sighting device of the character mentioned including a tilting frame, on which the device is mounted, and tangent screw means for adjusting the tilting frame on the support, the arrangement of a housing or enclosure on the support and into which an end of an arm on the tilting frame may extend in position to co-operate with tangent adjusting screws carried by the support whereby the adjusting screws and the arm of 30 the tilting frame are hidden within the enclosure and protected from dirt and other foreign matter while a neat and pleasing appearance is imparted to the construction.

Another important object is to provide a support for a sighting device, including a frame on which the device is tiltably mounted, the frame being formed with a chamber having an opening in which extends an arm connected with the device wherein the frame carries adjusting means 40 operatively associated with the arm within the chamber whereby the adjusting means is enclosed and protected against mechanical damage and guarded against dust, moisture and other deteriorating elements.

Another important object is to provide, preferably in conjunction with the adjusting arm of the support, cooperating scale elements enclosed in a housing and thus guarded against the deleterious effects of dust, moisture and the like, whereby a more serviceable and sightly instrument is provided.

Another important object is to provide an im- 55 are enclosed and protected against mechanical damage by external forces and against the entrance of foreign matter, said structure serving to provide a more attractive instrument at reduced cost.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an instrument. embodying the features of my present invention;

Figure '2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown, on the drawings, a measuring instrument comprising a sighting device H and support means for tiltingly carrying the sighting device in operative position. The assembly also includes manually operable devices carried on the support for adjusting the angularity of the sighting device, and means for determining a variety of data dependent upon the tilted position of the telescope on the support.

The instrument, which I have illustrated, comprises an alidade, although it is obvious that many features of the present invention are not necessarily restricted to this particular type of surveying instrument. The sighting device ll preferably comprises a telescope supported in a sleeve-like frame l3 having projecting axles [5 carried in bearings H formed in spaced upstanding arms IQ of a support frame 2|. The frame 2| has a base 23 mounted on a pedestal 25 which, in 40 turn, is supported on a base 21 comprising an elongated strip, at least one edge of-which is formed as a straight edge 29, the parts being arranged so that the longitudinal axis of the telescope lies at all times in the medial plane of the 5 assembly and parallel with the straight edge 29. The frame I3 and axles l5 provide for the tilting of the telescope about an axis at right angles to the plane in which the axis of the telescope extends. The base 2'! also carries a compass 3|.

The pedestal 25 preferably comprises a tubular element formed with a flanged base 35, which is or may be secured preferably on the mid-portion of the base 2! in any suitable fashion as by means of the fastening studs 31. The pedestal 55,

extends upwardly of the base and tapers inwardly toward its upper end, said pedestal having a flanged portion 39 at said upper end adapted to receive and form a support for the base 23 of the frame 2|, which is secured to the pedestal in any suitable fashion as by means of the fastening studs 4|. The upstanding arms H! are preferably of frame-like constructioncomprising spaced legs 43 interconnecting at their upper ends to form the lower half of the bearing 1,

half of the bearing |1.

The lower ends of the legs. are connected to the axles -|5 of the frame l3 projects outwardly;

of its bearing and is formed With a head 53 adapted to receive a clamping element 55 comprising a split collar 51 embracingthehead 53 and an arm'59 extending radially of said split collar and having an end extending through the I slot"5|=and into'one of the chambers 49, the end of. the arm within the chamber being formed with a disk The split collar 51 is held on the'head 53' in any'suitable' fashion as by means of the washer 63 and the holding screw 65. Clamp means 61, comprising a'thr'eaded shaft interconnecting thesplit portions of the collar 51 and a manually operable 'head 69 for tightening and loosening the screw, is provided for clamping the collar 51 on the head 53 so that the arm 59 may be-m'ade"fast with the axle I5. 7

The other axle'of the frame projects outwardly of the bearing which it is journalled and is formed to provide a headhavinga portion 1|, on which is journalled a spider-likeelement 13'of semicircular cross-sectional configurationand having a central arm-15 having a projecting leg 11 extending through a slot 5| into one of the chambers 49, the end'of said projecting arm 19 being-formed as a disk 8| similar to the disklike end 6| f the clamp arm 59. The arms 59 and 19 extend in different chambers 49 on opposite'sides of the instrument.

The axle portion 1| has an extension 83 carrying asegmental spider 85, which extends adjacent and in front of the spider, 15. The segmental spider 85 is secured toand made fast in any suitable fashion, asbythe fasteningstuds 81-, to the axle. The sider 85' consequently is fast with the frame |3 and will turn with the telescope or sighting device; The spider '15, however, is loose on the axle portion 1| and may consequently be held stationarily with respect to the support ped-' estal; by means of the arm 19. The telescope may be rotated freely by hand by loosening the nut 69 same, the pedestal isprovided with tangent screw* adjusting means 59 in position to co-operate with the ends of the arms 59 and 19 Within the chambers 49, there being separate adjusting means for eachiarm. 7 r

The tangent adjustingmeans 50 are preferably of like constructioncomprising a threaded stem 0 52 and. a backing pin 54 having bearing portions adapted to engage opposite-sides of the disk-like ends 6| and 8|. The stem 52 is threaded in a sleeve-like support collar 56, one end of which is threaded as at 58 in an opening formed in the frame 23 at one end of the opening 49 so that the sleeve-like support element 56 extends outwardly of the frame in substantial alignment with the chamber 49. The stem 52 extends in the sleeve 56 and has an enddisposed within the chamber 49 in position to engage one side of the disk or 8| with which it is associated. The

saidlegs 43 carrying a cap 45 providing the upper opposite end of the stem projects outwardly of the outer end of the sleeve 56 and is fitted with a knob 60 by means of which the stem 52 may be turned in the sleeve and advanced or retarded. The turning knob 60 is preferably formed externally with spherical surfaces of substantially tear-drop configuration to improve the appearance of the instrument by imparting a streamline aspect. The knob 69 is also preferably of substantially cup-shaped configuration internally and co-operates with the sleeve in a relatively smooth manner to prevent access of dirt, moisture, and

other foreign matter to' the stem 52;"which is sub-i stantially enclosed by the co-operation of the knob at the outer 'end of the sleeve 56.

A. stem 52 "is provided for each of thearms 59 s and 19." A backing pin154 likewise is provided for each of the arms 59and 19, backing pins being mounted on the frame 23 each in position opposing the stems. 52. Each backing pin comprises an elongated shell closed at one end and sliding in r a shell-like casing. 62, the closed end of the; pin

54 extending in the chamber 49 in alignment'with the opposing end of the stem 52. The casing 62 comprises anpelongated preferably cylindrical a spring'or other suitable resilient means 66 adapted to expand the casing provided by the hol low pin 54 and the shell 62 so that, the shell 52' being enclosed on the frame 23, the closed end of the pin is urged outwardly of the shell and into the chamber 49 in position'to yieldingly'bear upon and press against the opposite side of the disk 6|.or 8| with which it is associated opposite fr'omthestem52. Each of the arm-ending disks (5| and 8| therefo're is held by'andbetween the facing ends of a stem 52' and a co-operating back ingpin 54, the backing pinbeing normally urged" by the spring to maintain the-disk, withwhich it"is associated, firmly against the opposing end of the stem. In order to adjust the position of either. arm/59 and19 on the support frame 23,-

the backing pinto maintain the end of the arm against the end of the retracted stem. 7 It will be seen that the stem 52 and the backing-pin 54 are" enclosed in a dust-proof manner preventing deterioration of the operating parts, that the opposingends of the stem and-backing pin extend in the chamber 49, which is substantially enclosed save-for the slot 5|,through which the adjusting arm 59 or 19, as the case may be, ex} tends into the-chamber.

The assembly' is particularly attractive and neat in appearance, all operating parts being substantially enclosed not'only to prevent access thereto of foreign matter but also to prevent damage to the threads of the stem and to the backing pin by accidental impact upon these parts.

A preferably sheet metal cover 89 is secured on the spider I5, said cover having-flanged peripheral portions 9I fastened in any suitable fashion as by means of the studs 93 to the edges of the spider I5, the cover 89 enclosing the outwardly facing surface of the spider I5 and the spider 85 is enclosed between the spider I5 and the cover 89. The cover 89 is formed with openings 95 in position to reveal portions of the circular edges of both spiders which are formed with scale-carrying surfaces 91 visible through the openings 95.

It will be seen that the spider 85, since it is fastened on the frame I3 will tilt with the telescope while the spider I5, which is journalled on the axle of the fiange may be held in adjusted position with respect to the support by means of the arm I9. The surfaces of the spiders exposed through the openings 95 may be formed with suitable scales for indicating the angularity of the telescope and the vertical and horizontal components of the angularity expressed in suitable terms as for instance in horizontal and vertical stadia distance constants, which may be determined directly by reading the scales when the telescope is in adjusted position. To this end, one of the openings 95 may expose a surface of the spider containing an angularity scale 99 and a co-operating portion of the spider I5 containing a gauge mark HM and a vernier scale I03 so that the angularity of the telescope may be determined on the scale 99 by means of the gauge mark IUI and the Vernier scale M33. The other of the openings 95 likewise may expose a portion of the scale surface 91 of the spider 85 containing a scale I85 comprising horizontal stadia constants and a scale IIl'I of vertical stadia constants, the scales I95 and it? extending at opposite edges of the segmental scale surface 91, said opening also exposing a portion of the scale surface Bl carrying a gauge mark I09 in position to co-operate with the scale ID'I in order to indicate the stadia constant determined by the sighting position of the telescope. Means is or may be also provided affording a gauge mark I II in position to co-operate with the scale I05 and visible through the opening in order to indicate the horizontal stadia constant corresponding with the sighting position of the telescope. The gauge mark I I I is preferably formed on a suitable plate H3 secured on the inner surface of the cover 89 in any suitable fashion as by the holding screws II 5, said plate having an edge disposed opposite the edge of the scale surface 97 containing the scale I05 and carrying the gauge mark III in position visible through the opening 95.

The spider 75 carries a spirit level I I I mounted thereon preferably along its upwardly facing substantially fiat edge in order to permit the spider 75 to be accurately adjusted on the support pedestal by means of its tangent adjusting screws in conditioning the instrument for use in a particular location. It will be understood that the plane table, on which the instrument is mounted for use, may not be exactly level, for which reason it is necessary to level the spider I5 before sighting the telescope and making the stadia readings on the scales.

The spirit level II? may be of any suitable or convenient form or construction and preferably comprises a housing H9 containing a vial IZI therein and support means comprising headed stems I23, which penetrate the opposed ends of the vial housing H9 and. are threaded at their lower end into the top of the spider I5, clamping nuts I25 are or may be provided on the stems I23 to secure the parts in mounted relationship. By screwing the stems I23 to a proper distance in the frame 15, it ispossible to adjust the vial in proper alignment on the spider, and I prefer to utilize a vial, housing, and adjustable mounting substantially as shown in my co-pending application, Serial Number. 751,241, filed November 2, 1934.

The telescope or sighting device II comprises a tubular; preferably cylindrical barrel I3I, which is or may be provided with a belled extension I33 at one end to receive an objective lens assembly I35. At its opposite end, the telescope barrel is provided with an eyepiece assembly I3'I including an eyepiece focusing device I39 and an adjustable reticle MI. The barrel also carries an objective focusing slide I 43 between the eyepiece and objective lens assemblies. .The objective slide carries a lens assembly I45 fitted therein. and slidable longitudinally within the barrel for the purpose of focusing the telescope. The objective slide comprises a preferably cylindrical sleeve having an aperture I l! in its end facing the eyepiece assembly and carries a frame I 49 secured at its end opposite in the aperture M1 in any suitable fashion as by means of the holding screws I5I. The frame I49 carries the focusing lens I 53 in alignment with the aperture I41.

Means having a portion I55 extending within and a preferably knurled collar portion I'II operable outwardly of the barrel of the telescope may be provided for adjusting the position of the slide I 33 within the barrel of the telescope. The reticle also is adjustable in the barrel by means of screws I8I having heads exposed outwardly of the barrel and normally enclosed by a readily removable cover 205. The eyepiece also has a turnable part I95 projecting from the cover 295 at the end of the telescope for focusing the eyepiece lens system on the cross hairs of the reticle; and a scale 2I3 and index 2I5 may be arranged on the part I95 and the cover to indicate the adjustment of the eyepiece.

' The telescope or sighting device II also preferably carries a spirit level 2H, preferably detachably mounted thereon, as by. means of a remov-.

able support frame 225 demountably secured on seats provided on the telescope barrel by rings or collars 229 shrunk thereon, tofacilitate leveling of the telescope, and any suitable or preferred means may be employed for securing the telescope barrel in the tilting support sleeve I3.

I do not herein claim the telescope or any of its details nor the arrangement shown for securing the telescope in the support sleeve I3, nor the compass 3I, nor the spirit levels II! and 2H, nor the means for mounting the said spirit levels, nor the tilting telescope support means I5, including the sleeve-like portion I3 thereof, since the same form the subject-matter of copending divisional applications.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts of the illustrated apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of my inven tion or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages; thev forms: herein 'describ'edbeingmerely for the purpose of illustrating the invention:

Having thus"... described my'inventiori, what 1 claimasnlewand desire to secure by Letters Pat- .ent ,is' as follows:

1.1A device of the class described, comprising a pair of frame elements" interconnected for relative .rotational-imovement, one of the ele-' ments forming a support for theother, and said otherflelement carrying means forming amounting fo-r'ra sighting device, andmeanstoadjust the angular relationship of the elements comprisingichamber-forming means onsaid support providing an enclosing chamber-having a lateral opening; :means on said mounting element comprising ..a finger in :positionextending in said chamber "throughtsaid opening and .having a bearing portion within said chamber and adjusting means onsaid chamber-forming means and cooperatively.associated with said bearing por. tion withinthe chamber for shifting said finger therein to adjust the relative angular relationship of the said frame elements.

2.'Adevice ofithe' class idescribed" comprising a support frame having a pairiof enclosed cham-x bers, a sightingxtdevice tiltable on thei frame,

scale means comprising a membershiftable with 1 the. sighting device and a co-operating member.

adjustable with respectto the frame, means to adjust said co-operating' device with respect to saidframe comprising an arm connected to the 'sighting'device and extending in one of. said i,

chambers, an arm connected on the co-operating member and I extending. in the other of said chambers, adjusting meansifor each of said arms comprising 'means'on. the frame co-operatively' associated with its associated armwithin the chamber :in which said arm extends whereby to shift the same with respect to the frame.

3. Adevice of the'class described comprising 7 a support framegmeansufor mounting-a sighting device for relative angular movement on the frame,"scale meanscomprising a member carried by and shiftable with. the sighting device, and a cooperating memberadjustable with'respect to the frame, said members having adjacently extending surfaces carrying scale means whereby the relative angular position of the sighting device with1.respect 'to the 'framemay be detere mined',;and:'a coverfast with the co-operating I member and positionedtoenclose said scales and protectthe same.

4. A device of the class described comprising a support frame, a sighting device turnable on the frame, scale means comprising a member carried by and shiftable with the sighting device, and a cooperating member" adjustable with. respect to the framasaid members having adjacentlyi extendingsurfaces carrying scale means whereby theinclination of the sighting device with respect to the horizontal may be determined, a cover fast with the cooperating member'and positioned to enclose said scales and protect the same, said sighting'device being mounted for tilting movement on an axleand one of the scale members comprising a segmental spider fixed on saidaxle,

said cooperating scale ,me-mber comp-rising a spider journalledon said axle adjacent the fixed spider, the cover member being carried by'one of saidspider's and] enclosing theother and being formed with openings in position to expose the scale-carrying surfaces of both spiders, said cover member also carrying a gauge mark thereon in position to cooperate with a scale formed on'thej ournalled spider: r

5.--A deviceof the class described comprising a frame having a pair of enclosed chambers, means for mounting a sightingdevice forrelative'angu lar movement on the frame, scale meanscomprising a membershiftable with the sighting device,-

and a cooperatinglmember adjustable with respect i tov the'iframe, means to adjust said cooperating device with respect to said framecomprising an arm connected .to the sighting deviceand extend-' ingv in one of said chambers, meansto drivingly clamp said arm on said sighting device, another armconnected on the cooperating deviceand extending in the other of said chambers, spirit level means mounted on said cooperating-member, and: adjusting means for each of said arms comprising means on the frame and cooperatively associated with said arms within the chambers whereby V inv a wallof said chamber and having a portion extending in said chamber in position "to engage one side of said bearing portion, means extending outwardly of said chamber and manually operable to turn said'stem, means carried on the walls of said chamber and having a presser portion extending in said chamber ,on the opposite sideof said bearing portion, and means yieldingiy urging 1 said presser portion toward the bearingportion wherebyto hold. the same in engagement with said stem so that by adjusting the stem the relative angular position of said arm with respect to said frame about the axis of said shaft may be critically adjusted.

7. A device of the class described comprising a support frame, a sightingrdevice turnab-leion the cooperating member adjustable with respect to the frame, said members having adjacently ex tending surfaces carrying scale means whereby the inclination of the sighting'device with-respect to the horizontal may becdetermined, a cover fast i with the cooperating member and positioned to enclose said scales and. protect, thesame, the.

sighting device being mounted fortilting; movement on an axle and one of. the scale members comprising a segmental spider fixed on'said axle, the cooperating scale member comprisinga seg mental spider journalled .on said axle adjacent theother spider, said cover member being carried by one of said spiders and enclosing the-other, and said cover member being formed with openings in position to expose the scale-carrying surfaces of both spiders.

8. A device of the class described comprising a frame element formed with a bearing for receiv- V ing an axle, an axle in said bearing, means mounting a sightingrdevice for rotation with said axle, means on said axle comprising a projecting element, means on said frameelement forming a chamber having an openingiand the projecting element, having a finger portion extending into f the chamber through "said opening and having-a bearing portion disposed within the'chamber, a V

stem threaded in a wall of said-chamber'at-one 45 frame, scale means'comprising a member carried by and shiftable with thesighting device, and a' end thereof in position to engage one side of said bearing portion, means extending outwardly of said chamber and manually operable to turn said stem, means in the walls of said chamber at the opposite end thereof and having a p-resser portion extending in said chamber on the opposite side of said bearing portion, and means yieldingly urging said presser portion toward the bearing portion whereby to hold the same in engagement With said stem so that by adjusting the stem the relative angular position of said finger about the axis of said axle with respect to the element having the chamber may be critically adjusted.

ADOLPH LANGSNER. 

